Leopold Aschenbrenner Returns to Market With AI Options Bets After Hedge Fund Collapse
On September 11, 2026, reports emerged that Leopold Aschenbrenner, the founder of Situational Awareness hedge fund and a former OpenAI researcher, is back in the market with new options positions focused on AI stocks. This follows his dramatic collapse earlier this year when he reportedly lost $35 billion within days before being forced to unwind all public stock positions by July 2026. Citadel stepped in at that time and acquired Situational Awareness's portfolio, allowing Aschenbrenner a chance to rebuild. Now active again through options trading—known for their high leverage—the fund is once more targeting AI-related stocks, with NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) being the most likely focal point due to its dominance in the sector. NVIDIA’s recent financial performance has been robust, including $96.2 billion revenue and a 105% year-over-year increase, reinforcing it as a top choice for AI-focused traders.
Tickers: $NVDA
Topics: AI stocks hedge fund blowup market sentiment options trading